USPTO Patents Application 10537760

Serial No. 10/537,760 - 2 - Art Unit: 1797

Amendments to the Claims

This Listing of Claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the
application.

Listing of Claims:

1. (Currently Amended) A membrane module comprising:

a plurality of porous membranes extending in an array and mounted, at least at one end,
in a header, said header comprising a number of distribution apertures for distributing a
scrubbing fluid into said module and along a surface or surfaces of said membranes; and

a chamber positioned below said header, said chamber constructed and arranged to
promote upward flow of feed liquid therethrough, said chamber comprising:

an open base end in fluid communication with a source of feed liquid;
a second end in fluid communication with said distribution apertures; and
a gas inlet constructed and arranged to introduce gas into said chamber in a
downward direction from above the open base end,
a gas inlet;
a liquid inlet; and

a chamber comprising one open end fluidly connected to the gas and liquid inlets, and
another end in fluid communication with said distribution apertures, said chamber configured to
mix gas and liquid to produce said scrubbing fluid and further configured to distribute said
scrubbing fluid to said distribution apertures.

2. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is
elongate.

3. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the length of
said chamber is greater than that required to provide a static head, when the membrane is
immersed in a liquid and gas introduced into the chamber, equivalent to the head loss for the gas
to flow to said distribution apertures.

4. (Canceled)

Serial No. 10/537,760

-3-

Art Unit: 1797

5. (Canceled)

6. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is
enclosed on all sides.

7. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the header or
headers are mounted in a clover shaped manifold.

8. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the header or
headers are mounted in a linear, rectangular, square, or hexagonal manifold.

9. (Previously Presented) The membrane module according to claim 1 wherein the chamber
comprises a plurality of sides positioned to form a skirt directly beneath a header or plurality of
headers.

10. (Original) An array of membrane modules according to claim 1 when arranged in the form
of an extended linear array wherein the chamber has enclosed long sides.

11. (Original) An array of membrane modules according to claim 10 in the form of an extended
linear array wherein the chamber has unenclosed short sides.

12. (Currently Amended) An assembly of membrane modules comprising;

a plurality of porous membranes extending in an array and mounted, at least at one end,
in a plurality of respective headers, said headers being configured to provide a number of
distribution apertures therebetween for distributing a scrubbing fluid into said assembly of
membrane modules and along a surface or surfaces of said membranes; and

a chamber positioned below said header, said chamber constructed and arranged to
promote upward flow of feed liquid therethrough, said chamber comprising:

an open base end in fluid communication with a source of feed liquid;
a second end in fluid communication with said distribution apertures; and

Serial No. 10/537,760

-4-

Art Unit: 1797

a gas inlet constructed and arranged to introduce gas into said chamber in a
downward direction from above the open base end,
a gas inlet;
a liquid inlet; and

a chamber comprising one open end fluidly connected to the gas and liquid inlets, and
another end in fluid communication with said distribution apertures, said chamber configured to
mix gas and liquid to produce said scrubbing fluid and further configured to distribute said
scrubbing fluid to said distribution apertures.

13. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the chamber is elongate.

14. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the length of said chamber is greater than that required to provide a static head, when the
membrane is immersed in a liquid and gas introduced into the chamber, equivalent to the head
loss for the gas to flow to said distribution apertures.

15. (Canceled)

16. (Canceled)

17. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the chamber is enclosed on all sides.

18. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the header or headers are mounted in a clover shaped manifold.

19. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the header or headers are mounted in a linear, rectangular, square, or hexagonal manifold.

20. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 wherein
the chamber comprises a plurality of sides positioned to form a skirt directly beneath a header or

Serial No. 10/537,760
plurality of headers.

-5-

Art Unit: 1797

21. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 when
arranged in the form of an extended linear array wherein the chamber has enclosed long sides.

22. (Previously Presented) The assembly of membrane modules according to claim 12 in the
form of an extended linear array wherein the chamber has unenclosed short sides.

23. (Withdrawn) A method of removing a fouling material from a plurality of porous hollow
fiber membranes mounted and extending longitudinally in an array to form a membrane module,
the method comprising the steps of: providing a source of gas to a chamber in fluid
communication with said membrane module; flowing the gas from the chamber into a base of the
membrane module to form gas bubbles therein when said module is immersed in a liquid,
whereby an upward flow of the gas bubbles across surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes is
obtained, and whereby fouling materials are dislodged from the surfaces of the porous hollow
fiber membranes.

24. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 23 wherein the source of gas to the chamber is
provided within the chamber.

25. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 23 wherein the source of gas to the chamber is
provided from below the chamber.

26. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 23 wherein said chamber is elongate with one
end open and the other end in fluid communication with the membrane module.

27. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 26 wherein the gas is provided through the open
end of the chamber.

28. (Withdrawn) A method of removing a fouling material from a plurality of porous hollow
fiber membranes mounted and extending longitudinally in an array to form a membrane module,
the method comprising the steps of: forming a mixture of gas bubbles and liquid within a mixing

Serial No. 10/537,760 - 6 - Art Unit: 1797

chamber; injecting the mixture into a base of the membrane module, whereby an upward flow of
the mixture across surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes is obtained, and whereby fouling
materials are dislodged from the surfaces of the porous hollow fiber membranes.

29. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 28 wherein the step of forming a mixture
comprises entraining the gas bubbles into a liquid stream.

30. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 29 wherein the gas bubbles are entrained into
said liquid stream by means of the chamber.

31. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 29 wherein the gas bubbles are entrained or
injected into said liquid stream by means of devices which forcibly mix gas into a liquid flow to
produce a mixture of liquid and bubbles.

32. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 23 wherein air entering the mixing chamber is
deflected.

33. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 32 wherein air entering the mixing chamber is
deflected by way of a T-piece or baffle.

34. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 32 wherein air entering the mixing chamber is
deflected away from liquid entering the mixing chamber by way of a nozzle.

35. (Currently Amended) A membrane module comprising:

a plurality of porous membranes, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to
one another;

an open-ended mixing chamber constructed and arranged to provide a cleaning mixture
by for mixing together liquid and gas bubbles to provide a cleaning mixture; and , said chamber
having an open base in fluid communication with a source of feed liquid, said chamber
constructed and arranged to promote upward flow of feed liquid therethrough;

Serial No. 10/537,760 - 7 - Art Unit: 1797

a gas source positioned within the open-ended mixing chamber, the gas source
constructed and arranged to introduce gas into the open-ended mixing chamber in a downward
direction from above the open base; and

means for flowing said cleaning mixture along a surface of said membranes to dislodge
fouling materials therefrom.

36. (Withdrawn) A method of removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of
porous hollow fibre membranes mounted and extending longitudinally in an array to form a
membrane module, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another, the
method comprising the steps of forming a mixture of gas bubbles and liquid within a mixing
chamber, said mixture being formed by said gas bubbles being entrained in said liquid by
flowing said liquid past a source of gas so as to cause said gas to be drawn and/or mixed into said
liquid, flowing said mixture into said membrane module such that said bubbles pass substantially
uniformly between each membrane in said array to, in combination with said liquid flow, scour
the surface of said membranes and remove accumulated solids from within the membrane
module.

37. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 36 wherein the membranes comprise porous
hollow fibres, the fibres being fixed at each end in a header, the lower header having one or more
holes formed therein through which mixture of gas/liquid is introduced from the mixing
chamber.

38. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 37 wherein the holes are circular, elliptical or in
the form of a slot.

39. (Withdrawn) A method according to claim 36 wherein the membranes comprise porous
hollow fibres, the fibres being fixed at each end in a plurality of headers, the lower headers being
configured to provide a number of distribution apertures therebetween through which mixture of
gas/liquid is introduced from the mixing chamber.

40. (Currently Amended) A membrane module for use in a membrane bioreactor comprising:

Serial No. 10/537,760 - 8 - Art Unit: 1797

a plurality of porous hollow membrane fibres extending longitudinally between and
mounted at each end to a respective between an upper and a lower potting head, said membrane
fibres being arranged in close proximity to one another, said fibres being partitioned into a
number of bundles at least at or adjacent to their respective potting head so as to form a space
therebetween; and

an open-ended mixing chamber connect e d or open to a source of gas and liquid
positioned below the lower potting head, said chamber constructed and arranged to promote
upward flow of feed liquid therethrough, said chamber having an open base in fluid
communication with a source of feed liquid; and

a gas inlet positioned within the open-ended mixing chamber, the gas inlet spaced from
and surrounded by side walls of the open-ended mixing chamber,

wherein one of said potting heads having includes an array of openings formed therein in
fluid communication with said chamber for constructed and arranged to provide[[ing]] gas
bubbles within said module such that, in use, said bubbles move past the surfaces of said
membrane fibres to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

41. (Currently Amended) An assembly of membrane modules for use in a membrane bioreactor
comprising:

a plurality of porous hollow membrane fibres extending longitudinally between and
mounted at each end to a plurality of respective between an upper and a lower potting head[[s]],
said membrane fibres being arranged in close proximity to one another, said fibres being
partitioned into a number of bundles at least at or adjacent to their respective potting head so as
to form a space therebetween; and

an open-ended mixing chamber connected or open to a source of gas and liquid
positioned below the lower potting head, said chamber constructed and arranged to promote
upward flow of feed liquid therethrough, said chamber having an open base in fluid
communication with a source of feed liquid; and

a gas inlet positioned within the open-ended mixing chamber, the gas inlet spaced from
and surrounded by side walls of the open-ended mixing chamber, and centrally located within
the open-ended mixing chamber;

wherein said potting heads being are configured to provide a number of distribution
apertures therebetween in fluid communication with said chamber for providing gas bubbles

Serial No. 10/537,760 - 9 - Art Unit: 1797

within said assembly of membrane modules such that, in use, said bubbles move past the
surfaces of said membrane fibres to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.

42. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 41 wherein
the liquid used is feed to the membrane module.

43. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 41 wherein
the fibres within the module have a packing density of between about 5 to about 70%.

44. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 43 wherein
the packing density is between about 8 to about 55%.

45. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 41 wherein
said holes have a diameter in the range of about 1 to 40 mm.

46. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 45 wherein
said holes have a diameter in the range of about 1.5 to about 25 mm.

47. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or assembly according to claim 41
comprising a deflector within said mixing chamber configured to deflect gas away from the
source of the liquid.

48. (Previously Presented) The membrane module or an assembly according to claim 41
including a nozzle whereby liquid is introduced into the mixing chamber.

49. (Withdrawn) A membrane bioreactor comprising a tank having means for the introduction
of feed thereto, means for forming activated sludge within said tank, a membrane module or an
assembly according to claim 41 positioned within said tank so as to be immersed in said sludge
and said membrane module provided with means for withdrawing filtrate from at least one end
of said fibre membranes.

50. (Withdrawn) A method of operating a membrane bioreactor of the type according to claim

Serial No. 10/537,760

-10-

Art Unit: 1797

49, comprising introducing feed to said tank, applying a vacuum to said fibres to withdraw
filtrate therefrom while periodically or continuously supplying a cleaning mixture of gas bubbles
and liquid formed in a mixing chamber through said openings to within said module such that, in
use, said cleaning mixtures flows along the surface of said membrane fibres to dislodge fouling
materials therefrom.

51. (Withdrawn) A membrane bioreactor according to claim 49 wherein a further source of
aeration is provided within the tank to assist microorganism activity.

52. (Withdrawn) A membrane bioreactor according to claim 51 wherein the membrane module
is suspended vertically within the tank and said further source of aeration is provided beneath the
suspended module.

53. (Withdrawn) A membrane bioreactor according to claim 52 wherein the further source of
aeration comprises a group of air permeable tube.

54. (New) The membrane module of claim 1 wherein said gas inlet is fluidly connected to a
source of gas within said chamber.

55. (New) The membrane module of claim 54 wherein said source of gas is integral to said
header.

56. (New) The assembly of membrane modules of claim 12 wherein said gas inlet is fluidly
connected to a source of gas positioned among the plurality of porous membranes.